Participating in the Delhi launch of the Strengthening the Humanitarian System in India (SHSI) report in April was a valuable experience for me. The Strengthening the Humanitarian System was developed from discussions between the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) and the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP) during the launch of the 4th edition of ALNAP’s State of the Humanitarian System (SOHS) report in 2018. As an author of the 5th edition of the SOHS which explores global aggregated trends in humanitarian action, I was eager to delve into this new publication created by AIDMI, Sphere India, and WFP. The report focuses on India’s humanitarian structures and policies, providing valuable insights into a country with significant experience in responding to various humanitarian threats.
The current issue of Southasiadisasters.net, titled “Strengthening the Humanitarian System: From India to South Asia,” offers insightful reflections on the content of the SHSI report, providing a comprehensive overview of India’s humanitarian structures and policies. It also offers forward-looking options for implementing some of its recommendations. The compilation of perspectives from different types of humanitarian actors, focused both on the national and state level, with contributions from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, covers topics of clear importance for India and other countries. These contributions shed light on issues of migration, disaster risk reduction, and preparedness, which are increasingly crucial globally due to the growing threats of climate-related disasters.
I am eager to see how the SHSI report will be utilized in India and in other contexts facing similar humanitarian challenges. The first edition of this India report provides a valuable baseline for ongoing review, and its clear set of recommendations will facilitate future assessments of progress. I am keen to observe the evolution of the SHSI and the practical and policy actions it inspires.
